Ryan Tannehill conducting workouts with Dolphins receivers

The Miami Dolphins won't begin the team's official OTA workouts until the end of April, but numerous players are already at the team's Davie facility twice a week running routes, getting a jump start on the new offense Bill Lazor will be installing.

The guy coordinating these workouts is none other than quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who is entering his third season as the team's starter.

"When the quarterback says anything you listen," said Dolphins receiver Rishard Matthews, who said the workouts are entering their third week and have been picking up from a pace standpoint.

Tannehill's teaching players like Matthews Lazor's new offense, schemes and terminology because coaches aren't allow to work with players during the NFL's dead period, which is ongoing.

"Ryan's definitely ready, and we're going to pick things up pretty soon here in a couple weeks," said Matthews, a 2012 seventh-round pick who started five games last season, contributed 41 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns once he replaced an injured Brandon Gibson as Miami's slot receiver.

"The last game we came up short and we lost," Matthews said of Miami's 20-7 loss to the New York Jets, which prevented the Dolphins from qualifying for the playoffs and producing a winning record. "You win some, you lose some. I dropped a ball wide open (in a critical moment). I wish I could have that back. I was trying to step up.

"I have more than enough confidence in the guys in our locker room, and I'm sure the leaders do as well," Matthews said.

A new offense, one that is expected to learn heavily on the run game and cater to Tannehill's athleticism, should help the offense produce more than the 313 yards per game and 32 touchdowns Mike Sherman's offense produced last year.

"He's excited to put all the pieces together, use everyone to the best of the scheme," Matthews said of Lazor, whom he's spoken to. "I know the offense a little bit, and I'm definitely learning it as I go right now. I'm excited to get on the field and get everything going."

For now Tannehill is leading the team, coordinating the workouts, and teaching the player's what's to come.